Project SEARCH

Project SEARCH is a new scheme that gives young people aged 18-24 with learning disabilities a unique opportunity to gain work experience at NDDH is proving a great success.

Project SEARCH is based on a model developed in Cincinnati Ohio and is a collaboration between Petroc, Pluss employment agency and Northern Devon Healthcare Trust.

Departments that have hosted Project SEARCH internes have found them in general to be reliable, hardworking and have had a positive effect on team morale. The interns are supported by an instructor and a job coach who are onsite and available throughout the working week.

The students arrive to work at 8.15 a.m. so they can start learning in their classroom from 08.30 – 9.00 a.m. Then from 09.00 – 2.00 p.m. they are based within the hospital actually performing tasks alongside a mentor experienced within that role and then they return to the classroom at the end of the day.

Currently, the following departments within NDHT are offering learning opportunities for our students: